Footwear Optional: Test Your Barefoot Running Shoe Knowledge

Do you know the bare facts about running? Race through our barefoot running shoe quiz!

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Question 1 of 20

Christopher McDougall's best-selling book "Born to Run" describes his encounter with a tribe that runs long distances wearing only what type of footwear?

moccasins

sandals

As comfy as slippers and mocassins are, the Tarahumara tribe prefers thin sandals. While many barefoot running shoes have pockets for each toe, some new entries into the market have just two pockets, with only the big toe getting its own area, much like a sandal.

slippers

Question 2 of 20

To say that a shoe has zero drop means what?

The sole does not give when you step onto a hard surface.

There's no difference between the sole's thickness from the heel to the toe.

The drop is the difference between the height of the sole below the heel, which is higher, compared to the height of the sole below the toe. Also called the "differential," a drop of zero millimeters is considered ideal by many minimalist shoe aficionados.

The shoe wicks all moisture away from your feet as you sweat.

Question 3 of 20

What does the Ice Man, found in an alpine glacier in 1991, have to do with barefoot running shoes?

He was wearing a foot thong when he perished.

He became a fashion trend-setter far ahead of his time.

While he definitely was a man who walked long distances, he probably didn't run them. Ötzi, as he's most commonly called, wore shoes that inspired the entire line of OeTZI330, a California company specializing in fashionable, minimalist footwear. Not sure I'd recommend running in them however. Ötzi didn't.

It was discovered recently that he was a long-distance runner.

Question 4 of 20

A "foot thong" is best described how?

sexy

practical

both of the above

If you answered "both of the above," you are correct. It's a practical way to encourage yourself to use good running posture, which is always sexy. This is different from the women's fashion accessory, which, depending on your point of view, has little practical value.

Question 5 of 20

What brand prides itself on having one of the thinnest soles around?

Vivo

Sockwa

Weighing in a just a couple of ounces, and with a sole measuring in at 1.2 millimeters thick, Sockwa's line of what can realistically be called running socks are about as thin as they get.

Zem

Question 6 of 20

What barefoot runner collided with American runner Mary Decker in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics?

Wendy Sly

Cindy Bremser

Zola Budd

In one of the more controversial moments in the women's 3000-meter competition, heavy favorite Mary Decker fell to the ground after colliding with South African-born British runner Zola Budd. Wendy Sly was Budd's teammate and won the silver that year, while Decker's American teammate Bremser finished a close fourth.

Question 7 of 20

What do proponents of minimalist footwear NOT claim as a health benefit of wearing barefoot running shoes or running barefoot?

What minimalist footwear was Scarlett Johansson seen wearing in April 2011?

Vibram FiveFingers

After splitting up with Ryan Reynolds, the A-list actress was spotted with Sean Penn (who apparently hasn't joined the minimalist trend) sporting a colorful pair of Vibram FiveFingers.

Feelmax Osma

ZEM Wellness

Question 9 of 20

Abebe Bikila, an Ethiopian long-distance runner, won the Olympic marathon running barefoot in what city?

Mexico City

Tokyo

Rome

The first person to ever win two Olympic gold medals for the marathon, Bikila won his first in Rome in 1960. Maybe the cobblestones were more painful than he let on because for his follow-up victory in Tokyo he found some shoes.

Question 10 of 20

Which of the following is a correct match-up with the brand and how they refer to the difference between the sole's thickness under the heel compared to under the toe?

Go-Lite : differential

Inov : zero-drop

Brooks : offset

It might be a sign of a new industry, like BluRay vs HD DVD, but this is out of control. Just learn what manufacturers are talking about and read all documentation before laying down cash. If you want some more (challenging) fun, check out Nike's shoe-naming system.

Question 11 of 20

When was the very first International Barefoot Running Day event held?

July 14, 2006

September 25, 1994

May 1, 2011

Barefoot Runners Society held their first such event on May 1, 2011, showing just how quickly this phenomenon is hitting the mainstream. Whether you're truly running barefoot, have some barefoot running shoes, or plod along in your trusty old steel-toed boots, you're invited to this annual event.

Question 12 of 20

What brand of barefoot running shoe started the whole craze and then ended up becoming a favorite of the non-running crowd?

New Balance

Nike

Vibram

Popular for their comfort and minimalism, many like to use the Vibram FiveFingers for walking, shopping, or even yoga.

Question 13 of 20

How long does it take to transition from a traditional running shoe to going completely barefoot?

at least four months

no more than a few weeks

as long as it takes

From a few weeks to well over a year, transitioning from traditional footwear to minimalist or barefoot is nothing to rush. If you're still transitioning in a few years though, you might want to rethink barefoot running.

Question 14 of 20

If the weather outside is below freezing, how do you wear minimalist footwear and avoid frostbite?

You don't. It's the price you pay for better balance.

Run faster.

Wear socks.

Frostbite is a great thing to avoid, and you should never have to suffer just because you're sporting minimal footwear. Many of the companies who make this type of running shoe also offer socks that are designed to work with them. If you picked socks, your mother would be proud.

Question 15 of 20

Is it OK for barefoot running purists and those wearing minimalist footwear to socialize and run together?

Never; no good could come of it.

Only if they never bring up the subject of shoes.

It's totally cool.

Now there might be exceptions, but most runners get along famously. It's like a brotherhood (or sisterhood). Besides, they can all agree to poke fun at the people using cushy cross-trainers with arch supports.

Question 16 of 20

What are "huaraches"?

an injury to your huaria, often occurring after running barefoot

a Southwestern delicacy often eaten the night before a race

a type of sandal used by Native American tribes in Mexico

The Tamahurana tribe described in "Born to Run" commonly uses this thin-soled sandal to run races over a hundred miles. They hit the United States long before McDougall's book though; Jack Kerouac wrote about them in "On the Road" back in the 1950s.

Question 17 of 20

What British long-distance runner became famous for running many of his races barefoot?

Eric Liddell

Harold Abrahams

Bruce Tulloh

The first two you might remember as the main characters in the film "Chariots of Fire" and were both talented runners in their own right. Bruce Tulloh's often-barefoot running career peaked in 1962 with a spectacular win in the 5000-meter European Championships. He followed that up with a coaching and writing career.

Question 18 of 20

Inov-8's minimalist reputation has been built on what type of endeavor?

yoga

water sports

trail running

In a competitive field of big-name companies, having a niche is not a bad thing. Inov-8 and GoLite are two brands that actively pursue the outdoor runner.

Question 19 of 20

It's said you should be able to bend your barefoot running shoe into what letter of the alphabet?

U

C

O

With soles as thin as 1-2 millimeters, a good-quality BRS should bend into a full circle. If you can only bend it part-way, it's not much of a minimalist shoe, but might be good to help you transition into one. Remember, go slow to avoid injuries.

Question 20 of 20

What is a barefoot hash?

nothing I'm willing to admit to in public

something they do to prepare grapes at the vineyard

a minimalist twist on a running-based social event

Nothing illegal here, nor does it have anything to do with grapes (though it could). A barefoot hash is an event where the participants run from pub to pub, evidently working up a thirst for each establishment. Generally more of a social event than any kind of real training, it's a fun way to get to know your fellow minimalists.